Lines



(No Model.)

I B. H. VELLINES. MACHINE FOR PAOILITATING GRADE SEPARATION OF NUTS OR GRAIN.

g manmm whom Lu u Benton WE /fries ATENT FFICE.

BENTON II. VELLINES, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, PEANUT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR FACILITATING GRADE SEPARATION OF NUTS OR GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 463,976,61ated November 24, 1891.

Application filed June 20, 1891. Serial No. 396,964. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENTON HARPER VEL- LINES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Facilitating Grade Separation of Nuts and Grain; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

r 5 Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a transverse vertical section illustrat ing the invention. Fig. 2 is a partial horizontal section and plan view of the mouths of the chutes. Fig. 3 is a partial transverse vertical section enlarged. Fig. 4 is a detail of a front view of the discharge-opening and gate.

This invention has relation to machines adapted to facilitate the operation of hands in separating nuts or grain, and especially peanuts and beans, into grades, as well as removing therefrom extraneous and worthless matter; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, all as 0 hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates an incasement or reservoir into which the nuts are passed through an opening a in the top. The lower portion of the 5 5 core A is subdivided into chute-compartm cuts 13 B, and along the lateral wall of the core extends a cylinder 0, which forms the extreme bottom, as at c, of each chute-compartment and projects laterally through a longitudinal slot- C in said wall, so that its side portion,

as at 0, forms the commencement of the delivering-passages, being a curved inclined surface, which, when the machine is in operation, is constantly moving on account of the outward rotation of the cylinder through the chute-gateway D of the casing and downward therefrom to the picking-shelf E. The walls of each chute-compartment B converge to the cylinder-bottom c of said compartment, and the rotation of the cylinder carries out through the gateway D, which is an offset of the slot O above the cylinder, the lower stratum of nuts in a regular and even manner, delivering them to the picking-shelf in more or less quantity, according to the ad justment of the gate D, which is a vertical slide seated in ways (Z, attached to the casing. This gate D is provided with a rubber guard extension d at its lower end, which presents a yielding edge to the nuts as they pass outward from the casing and prevents choking.

It also enables the hand who sits before the picking-shelf in position to watch the nuts and separate them to shut off the discharge from the casing at any moment that it may be necessary.

The slide-gate is provided with a leverhandle (1, whereby the slide may be moved up or down,as may be advisable, to let out more nuts from the casing or to lessen the number passing out or to entirely cut off the flow.

The picking-shelf E is located in the upper portion of the mouth of the main discharge-chute F and is inclined usually outward and downward, its slope or inclination being regulated by the picking hand in accordance with the requirements of the work. The shelf is hinged, as at f, and is provided with a spring g underneath, which raises it against the bearing of a cam-lever or regulating device h at the side. When the nuts are passing over the shelf too rapidly for the eye of the picker to discriminate between the good and bad nuts, the cam-lever is 8 turned to allow the shelf to rise, and thereby render the movement of the nuts over the same less rapid, and the gate D may be. depressed at the same time to lessen the flow of nuts from the casing, so that a more limited o quantity will be delivered upon the pickingshelf.

In order to provide a greater shelf-surface for the picking operation, as well as to lessen the opening in the front of the chute-mouth 5 through which the nuts pass downward into and through the discharge-chute F, a secondary shelf or extension F is provided, which is adjustable toward or from the front walle of the chute-mouth in slideways 7c of the main shelf.

At the side of the main dischargechute are the secondary discharge-chutes i, into which the bad nuts and worthless matters are dropped, and by which they are conveyed below, the good nuts being carried down by the main chute F. These chutes are inclined downward and inward toward the plane of the casing-wall, in order to provide room for the operating hands, who have their seats, as.

at M, in front of the chute-mouths. Usually I provide f or one incasement two sets of chutes, one on each side, and two feedingcylinders, one on each side of the incasement, which is longitudinally divided in its lower portion by an angular partition K, the com partment-chu tes being arranged in series on each side of the partition, as indicated. In this way provision may be made for a set of picking hands on each side of the incasement.

The only parts of this machine which are designed to have regular motion are the feeding'cylinders, which maybe slowly turned by means of pulleys and belts. The delivery gate or opening through which the cylinder brings the nuts to the operator being imme diately in front of him and also being of small size, he is enabled to concentrate his sight upon the work in a limited space and effect the separation in a thorough manner without undue fatigue either to his eyesight or his hands. Should the work move too fast, he can easily lessen its speed by the adjustiug devices, whereas when the nuts are moving in good quality the speed may be increased. As the work of each picker is confined to his particular table and receptacle, the manner and quality of his work can be readily determined by the foreman or overseer.

\Vhen it is desired to close the feed-gateway I), it is advisable to first shut off the rolling feed-surface of the cylinder, which is done by drawing the curved sheath Z over said surface. This curved sheath extends back through a slot .2" of the incasement and is adjusted by means of rods 2". When pushed back, the rolling-surface of the feedcylinder acts upon the nuts to carry them through the gateway D; but when pulled forward over the cylinder-surface the feeding is stopped.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a subdivided incasement or reservoir having a lateral series of openings or gateways and a lateral longitudinally-extending feeding-cylinder revolving in a longitudinal slot below said openings in the wall of said incasement, of adjustable gates for said openings, exterior downwardextending discharge chutes, and pickingshclves at the mouths of said chutes and adjacent to said feeding-cylinder, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the incasement or reservoir and its lateral feeding-cylinders projecting through wall-slots thereof, having a series of offset openings above said cylinders, of the adjustable gates for said openings, the exterior downwardly-extending discharge-chutes, and the adjustable picking shelves, substantially as specified.

The combination, with a cleaner, its exterior discharging-chute, and feeding-cylinder, of a picking-shelf over said chute and its spring-support, substantially as specified.

ei. The combination, with a cleaner, its exterior discharging-chute, and feeding-cylinder, of an adjustable picking-shelf supported on a spring and an adjusting-lever, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a cleaner and its exterior discharging-chute, of an adjustable fceding-shelf,an adjustable extension thereof toward the front wall of the mouth of said chute, and a spring and cam-lever regulating device for said shelf, substantially as specitied.

0. The combination, with the subdivided reservoir having a lateral series of openings over a longitudinal slot in the wall of said incasement, of a longitudinal feeding-cylinder moving in said slot, the gates of said openings, and thecurved adjustable sheaths of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENTON II. VELLINES.

\Vitnesses:

D. S. BENNETT, \V. J. SMITH. 

